(Photo: Tyler McLean)
Hundreds of demonstrators opposed to COVID-19 mandates gathered at the provincial legislature in Fredericton on Friday.
Many of the protesters were waving Canadian flags, carrying signs, honking horns and a few had megaphones.
Reporter Tyler McLean said the crowd seemed rather peaceful and while the protest was billed as a convoy, he added nothing larger than pickup trucks had arrived.
One protestor, who declined to give her name, was asked why she decided to participate.
“The government is trying to force people to do things that they don’t have to under the Charter. And also, it’s against their human rights. So freedom… if you boil everything down… freedom and know your rights is the main thing. They have no business doing this to the public and all this stuff has to stop.”
(Photo: Tyler McLean)
The mayor of Fredericton believes police handled the protest as planned and Kate Rogers described the demonstration as peaceful.
“I walked to work this morning and felt very secure. I feel that the police are handling things. The business community has been phenomenal. So when we talk about a coordinated approach, it is coordinated amongst public safety officers and I would say with the community as a whole. The downtown business community has been very responsive to any of our requests and cooperating and providing the information that we need.”
Rogers was concerned about what might happen but noted she always had confidence in how the city would respond.
A restaurant in downtown Fredericton near the legislature hoped customers can visit without any problems this weekend.
Tabitha Smith, owner of Isaac’s Way, says she has been kept up-to-date on the situation by the Chamber of Commerce, the City and the police.
“Well, I can tell you that we have quite a few reservations already for tomorrow. We have had some of our regulars cancel reservations, probably in anticipation of traffic. So we’re just hoping those folks can show up tomorrow.”
Smith believed the response to the protest was well-organized and she felt protected and safe.
(Photo: Tyler McLean)
Fredericton police noted they will continue to have a highly visible presence during the protest.
Officers restricted large truck traffic from entering downtown and only allowed trucks making deliveries to enter the area.
Fredericton Deputy Police Chief Martin Gaudet was asked if the protest might grow on Saturday.
“We’re absolutely anticipating a different type of approach tomorrow. It’ll be what it will be. We have good intelligence coming in our way and are prepared for tomorrow like we were today. Our pre-planning worked fantastic. We had many checkpoints around the city. As you all know and as we’ve been saying, we protect the rights for people to demonstrate. They arrived at the checkpoints and we’d let the cars and the small trucks go by. The large trucks were not allowed to come into the city without a valid manifest. And that worked out very well.”
Gaudet said no arrests for Criminal Code violations were made although three Motor Vehicle Act tickets were issued .
He added one truck did attempt to enter the protest area but was directed to leave and the driver did so without a problem.
Police said the public should expect traffic delays in Fredericton over the weekend and officers will make every effort to reduce the impact of those delays.
Police warn anyone impeding or blocking traffic will be subject to significant fines, as well as seizure and forfeiture of their vehicle, under the provincial mandatory order.
